I care not if thou doft for me as much. * I pull in refolution; and begin To doubt the equivocation of the fiend, That lies like truth: Fear not, 'till Birnam wood Comes toward Dunfinane.-Arm, arm, and out!- likewise a Cheshire proverb: "You been like Smithwick, either clem'd or burften." Again, in Antonio and Mellida: Now lions' half-clem'd entrails roar for food." In the following instances, the exact meaning of this word is not very clear: "Andrea flain! then weapon cling my breast." First part of Jeronimo, 1605. "Although my confcience hath my courage cleng'd, "And knows what valour was employ'd in vain." Lord Sterline's Darius, 1603. Again, in the Sadler's Play, among the Chester Whitfun plays, MS. Harl. 1013, p. 154, where the burial of our Saviour is fpo ken of: "That now is clongen under clay." I have given thefe varieties of the word for the fake of any ture lexicographer, or commentator on ancient authors. STEEVENS. fu Though this is the reading of all the editions, yet, as it is a phrafe without either example, elegance, or propriety, it is furely better to read : I pall in refolution, I languish in my conftancy, my confidence begins to forfake me. It is fcarcely neceflary to obierve how eafily pall might be changed into pull by a negligent writer, or mistaken for it by an unskilful printer. With this emendation Dr. Warburton and Mr. Heath concur. JOHNSON. There is furely no need of change; for Shakespeare, who made Trinculo, in the Tempeft, fay: I will let loofe my opinion." might have written : I pull in my refolution. He had permitted his courage (like a fiery horfe) to carry him to the brink of a precipice, but, feeing his danger, refolves to check that confidence to which he had given the rein before. STEEVENS. There There is no flying hence, nor tarrying here. And with the eftate o'the world were now undone. SCENE. Drum and colours. Enter Malcolm, Siward, Macduff, and their Army, with Boughs. Mal. Now near enough; your leavy screens throw down, And fhew like thofe you are :-You, worthy uncle, Siw. Fare you well. Do we but find the tyrant's power to-night, Macd. Make all our trumpets fpeak; give them all breath, Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death. [Exeunt. Alarums continued, Mach. They have ty'd me to a stake; I cannot fly, But, bear-like, I must fight the course 2.-What's he, That was not born of woman? Such a one Am I to fear, or none, 2 I muft fight the course. ·1 A phrafe taken from bear-baiting. So, in The Antipodes, by Brome, 1638: "Alfo you fhall fee two ten-dog courses at the great bear." STEEVENS. Enter Enter young Siward. Yo. Size. What is thy name? Mach. Thou'lt be afraid to hear it. Yo. Siw. No; though thou call'ft thyself a hotter name Than any is in hell. Mach. My name's Macbeth. Yo. Sizo. The devil himself could not pronounce a title More hateful to mine ear. Mach. No, nor more fearful. Yo. Siw. Thou lieft, abhorred tyrant; with my fword I'll prove the lie thou speak'ft. [Fight; and young Siward is flain. Mach. Thou waft born of woman. But fwords I fmile at, weapons laugh to fcorn, Alarums. Enter Macduff. [Exit. Macd. That way the noife is :-Tyrant, fhew thy face; If thou be'ft flain, and with no ftroke of mine, I fheath again undeeded. There thou should'st be ; Seems bruited': Let me find him, fortune! and More I beg not. [Exit. Alarum. 3 Seems bruited: -1 Enter From bruit. Fr. To bruit is to report with clamour; to noife. So, in K. Hen. IV. P. II: Enter Malcolm and old Siward. Siw. This way, my lord;-the castle's gently ren- The tyrant's people on both fides do fight; And little is to do. Mal: We have met with foes That ftrike befide us. Siw. Enter, fir, the castle. Re-enter Macbeth. [Exeunt. Alarum. Mach. Why fhould I play the Roman fool, and die On mine own fword? whiles I fee lives, the gashes Do better upon them. Re-enter Macduff. Macd. Turn, hell-hound, turn. Mach. Of all men elfe I have avoided thee: But get thee back, my foul is too much charg'd With blood of thine already. Macd. I have no words, My voice is in my fword; thou bloodier villain Than terms can give thee out! Mach. Thou lofeft labour: [Fight. Alarum. As easy may'st thou the 4 intrenchant air -I am not "One that rejoices in the common, wreck, "As common bruit doth put it." Again, in Acolaftus, a comedy 1529: "Lais was one of the most bruited common women that clerkes do write of." STEEVENS As eafy may't thou the intrenchant air] That is, air which cannot be cut. JOHNSON. As eafy may't thou the intrenchant air With thy keen fword imprefs, as make me bleed: So, Milton, Paradife Loft, b. vi: "Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound 66 STEEVENS, With thy keen fword imprefs, as make me bleed: Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; 5 I bear a charmed life, which must not yield To one of woman born. Macd. Defpair thy charm; And let the angel, whom thou still haft ferv'd, Mach. Accurfed be that tongue that tells me fo, And live to be the fhew and gaze o'the time. I bear a charmed life,] In the days of chivalry, the champion's arms being ceremonioufly bleffed, each took an oath that he used no charmed weapons. Macbeth, according to the law of arms, or perhaps only in allufion to this custom, tells Macduff of the fecurity he had in the prediction of the fpirit. To this likewife Pofthumus alludes in Cymbeline, a& V : 66 "Could not find death." UPTON. So, in the Dumb Knight, 1633, by L. Machin: "Here you fhall iwear by hope, by heaven, by Jove, Again, in Spenfer's Faery Queen, b. i. c. 4: 66 -he bears a charmed shield, “And eke enchaunted arms that none may pierce." 6palter with us in a double fenfe ;] That buffle with ambiguous expreffions. JOHNSON. STEEVENS. "Now fortune, frown and palter if thou pleafe." Again, in Julius Cæfar: -Romans that have spoke the word, "And will not palter." STEEVENS, We'll |
